Colorado Voter Volume 28, Number 4, 2015

Transcription

1 Colorado Voter Volume 28, Number 4, 2015 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COLORADO The League of Women Voters of Colorado invites you to attend the second annual Colorado Leader of Democracy event recognizing Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis Executive Director, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System Wednesday, June 17, :30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. / Program at 6:15 p.m. Wine and Hors d oeuvres Buffet 2775 South Brook Drive, Denver, Colorado The Residences at University Hills Community Room Yes, I want to support the LWVCO Colorado Leader of Democracy event. $200 Patron Sponsor (All patrons will receive Justice Kourlis' book Rebuilding Justice.) $100 Individual Ticket I am unable to attend. My donation is enclosed. Name(s) of attendee(s) Address City State/Zip Phone Check is enclosed in amount $ payable to LWVCO Mastercard Visa Justice Kourlis will share her dedication to ensuring that the American legal system provides justice for all. Credit card # Exp. date Signature Please cut on dotted line and mail to: LWVCO, 1410 Grant St, Ste B204, Denver, CO before June 11, 2015 deadline. Thank you!

2 Board of Directors Officers Barb Mattison, President Nancy Crow, lst VP Program Cath Perrone, 2ndVP Administration Cynthia Thorstad, 3rd VP Member Services Gerry Cummins, 4th VP Voter Service Sue Vaughan, Secretary Linda Porter, Treasurer Directors Sonia Koetting, Communications Cynthia (Cinnie) Auer, Development Marilyn Brown, Voter Editor Marlu Burkamp, Director-at-Large Karen Connor, Director-at-Large Staff Julie Leonard, Executive Director Colorado Voter, May, 2015 Published quarterly by League of Women Voters of Colorado 1410 Grant Street Ste B204 Denver CO Phone: Fax: Website: Send articles and photos to the editor, Marilyn Brown, (Outgoing Voter Editor and person responsible for any and all errors in this issue: Julie Ott) From the President Dynamic, fresh, strong and successful! These words came from the reports of committee leaders at the recent Annual Meeting of LWV Estes Park. For me, these words also describe LWVCO s May Convention in Boulder, and I hope these words will also describe the coming year for the League of Women Voters in Colorado! I m honored to be the new LWVCO President. Special thanks and congratulations to outgoing President Bobbie Heisterkamp for her gracious, confident leadership and her devotion to the League. League in Colorado has grown in numbers and strength; it is my job to continue that growth. Congratulations also to the Award winners announced at Convention: Colorado League of the Year LWV Estes Park for strong community involvement and visibility resulting in a 34% increase in membership; the Energizer Awards Ruth Stemler, LWV Boulder, and Pearlanne Zelarney, LWV Denver, for dedicated service that has strengthened their local Leagues; and, a new award, the Eva Fifkova Lifetime Achievement Award to Donna Shavlik, LWV Estes Park, for her significant work to improve women s lives and the communities in which she has lived during her employment and volunteer careers. The Eva Fifkova Lifetime Achievement Award was created this year by the Awards Committee and approved by the LWVCO Board of Directors because Ms. Shavlik s achievements were brought to our attention. This award, named for Eva Fifkova a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will now be given through the LWVCO awards process every two years at Convention. Congratulations to new LWVCO Board members Cath Perrone (Jefferson County), new 2 nd Vice President of Administration, Linda Porter (Jefferson County), new LWVCO Treasurer, and Marilyn Brown (LaPlata County), new VOTER Editor. Special thanks to outgoing Board members Liz Black (Boulder), Julie Ott (Pikes Peak Region), and Carol Pace (Denver). I love the League of Women Voters. Why? Because this is a group of women and men who not only think about today s issues but do something about them. This is a group of people who care about democracy and community and quality of life. We study; we develop positions; we act; we educate. To increase League s advocacy and education efforts, we must be highly visible in our communities. We must employ smart media efforts; our forums and education need to be open to the public; and we need to build effective coalitions to bring about change. We must strengthen both League s Membership/ Leadership Development efforts and our VOTE 411 visibility, consistency and outreach. In addition to the work above, LWVCO will continue current strong events and actions for and by League in Colorado: Leadership Recharge (June 26-27, 2015); League Day (September 19, 2015); Legislative Conference (January 25, 2016), State Council (May 21-22, 2016 in Montrose, CO) and the Legislative Action Committee. Thanks to each of you for your dynamic, fresh, strong and successful work! LWVCO is with you. Barbara Mattison Colorado Voter 2 May, 2015

3 LWVCO Board Left to Right, Nancy Crow, Karen Connor, Cath Perrone, Marilyn Brown, Marlu Burkamp, Gerry Cummins, Sue Vaughan and Barbara Mattison. Not pictured are Cinnie Auer, Sonia Koetting, Linda Porter, and Cynthia Thorstad. Photo by Nancy Ball. By Nancy Crow, 1 st VP Program PROGRAM ADOPTED AT LWVCO CONVENTION Sixty delegates representing fifteen local Leagues at the state convention adopted by a majority vote the following program items that had been recommended by the LWVCO Board. To retain all current LWVCO positions in the areas of Government, Natural Resources, and Social Policy. A new study to update the LWVCO Health Care Position to include Behavioral Health. Note: Conduct this study between September 2015 and December 1, 2015, using the study materials and consensus questions prepared by the Behavioral Health Task Force that will be available to local Leagues by September 1, This schedule allows sufficient time to propose and lobby for concurrence with the LWVCO position at the LWVUS Convention in June Two not-recommended items were brought to the convention floor and received a majority vote for consideration. Concurrence with the LWV Boulder County s Position on Wage Issues. The LWVBC believes that just as Colorado can set a minimum wage above the federal minimum wage, so local jurisdictions should be able to exceed the state minimum. We oppose legislation that prohibits such local action. We believe that alleviating poverty is the shared responsibility of government, employers, individuals, and non-profit assistance organizations. All sectors should be involved in setting an adequate minimum wage or living wage. The living wage is the minimum required to avoid poverty without government assistance and subsidies. The living wage (gross income) should cover the costs of food, clothing, housing, energy, transportation, health care, K 12 education, child care, taxes (income, Social Security), and supplemental expenses for work and school. In determining a living wage, a jurisdiction should consider the local cost of living, the national Consumer Price Index, and other reliable and measurable data. When a jurisdiction makes changes to wage laws, it should ensure that data regarding the effects of those changes are collected and distributed. Update the LWVCO position on Hydraulic Fracturing Proposed by the LWV Larimer County Scope: a. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC)--its make-up and purposes b. The Colorado Severance Tax c. Fines levied against oil and gas companies for infractions of regulations in such areas as drilling, air pollution, and water contamination. d. Home Rule vs. State power in hydraulic fracturing decisions e. Adequate drilling site inspectors in Colorado f. Drilling site setbacks from buildings and water sources On Sunday morning these not-recommended items were debated and a vote was taken for adoption. Though neither items received a sufficient number of votes for adoption, the delegates engaged in a lively and constructive debate. Both issues are of great concern to League members and the debate informed us for future action in these areas. The LWVCO Board thanks the LWV Boulder County and the LWV Larimer County on the excellent work in bringing these two items to the floor of the convention. Colorado Voter 3 May, 2015

4 By Margie Beal, Outgoing LWVCO MLD Coordinator MLD Goes to Convention At the 2015 League of Women Voters Colorado state convention, the Membership Leadership Development (MLD) team were very visible. Each state coach had a yellow sash, each Shur Fellow had a purple sash, and all were armed with flower stickers to hand out to delegates with whom they chatted about MLD. Margie Beal presented awards to four Leagues, which had used MLD best practices to grow membership, increase visibility, and foster greater engagement with the local community. The awards were presented to Mesa, Arapahoe/Douglas, Jefferson, and Montezuma Counties. A caucus was held after the banquet in which participants had the opportunity to practice using the Grow Me model, one of the MLD strategies to help LWV groups set goals and develop steps to achieve them. Twenty-two delegates attended. A big thank you goes out to Lineah Davey and Linda Mahan who generously helped with planning and executing the program. Prue Larson will be taking over the role of State MLD Coordinator from me, so contact her with any questions you have (pruelarson@gmail.com). I look forward to hearing about all the exciting things happening in our state as a result of MLD best practices being put in place. Photo: MLD Coaches Prue Larson and Eva Muniz Valdez, Shur Fellow Lineah Davey, and Pueblo Delegate Ruth Nerenberg. Photo by Julie Ott. By Jean Fredlund, Legislative Action Committee Chair Legislative Action Committee 2015 The LWVCO Legislative Action Committee (LAC) had a busy and fairly successful year. We followed 104 bills, including two that were just presented as FYI. We supported 48 bills and one was supported in part. Of these, we saw 21 become law, even though, with a divided Legislature, it was hard to get anything through both houses. Of the 33 bills we opposed, 32 were killed. Our voices count! The volunteer lobbyists of the LAC worked long and hard, logging 1464 hours of time spent researching bills, testifying about our positions and reporting, both in person at our meetings and in the Legislative Letter. Our volunteers spent $828 for such things as parking and other expenses related to their efforts. We sent out several Calls to Action this year, as we felt that LWVCO members all over the state could contact their own legislators more effectively than the (mostly) Denver Metro area LAC members. Among other issues, we sent out calls about the Human Services Ombudsman, the DUI felony bill, gun safety, and pay equity. We owe a great big thank you to LAC member Linda Foreman for spearheading this effort and to all the LWVCO members who followed through by contacting the legislators. We were so pleased to witness the advent of the remote testimony program. We supported this concept in the 2013 session. The program started this year in the Grand Junction area, hosted by Mesa University, and went very well. Citizens testified on both sides of several issues, and were able to see and be seen by the legislators on the various committees. The program was limited in scope this year but will expand to other out-lying areas in the years to come, probably soon to the Durango and Weld county areas. Please contact your local legislators to thank them for this expanded opportunity for grass-roots input to legislation. They do deserve our thanks sometimes and we often forget. I am so privileged to work with a group of people who are so intelligent, dedicated and passionate about the things that matter to all of us in this country. My special thanks go to Chris Watson for her guidance and breadth of knowledge; to Julie Leonard for her patience and assistance in most anything I threw at her; to Frank Bennett for his hours and hours of time and attention to detail in his editing of the Legislative Letter, to Sally Augden for continuing to proof read the Letter for me and to all the members of LAC for their support, work and patience, all while keeping a great sense of humor and perspective. We're looking forward to having more fun in the next legislative session! Colorado Voter May,

5 By Sonia Koetting, Communications Director National History Day Outreach Continues LWVCO had another successful youth outreach opportunity with our participation in the Colorado National History Day competition in Denver on May 2. This year s theme was Leadership and Legacy. LWVCO sponsored a $100 prize for the best entry about informing voters or citizenry, grassroots advocacy, or education on topics of public concern. It was a fun challenge for the six LWVCO judges present that Saturday morning to compare between the submitted media. Applicants for our prize this year included eight exhibits, four performances, two websites and four documentaries. We were impressed with the entries and learned from all of them but decided the most exceptional was a one-person live act by Samara Angel, a high school senior from Boulder. She described the under-sung efforts of civil rights activist Diane Nash. Samara won not only the LWVCO prize but the state competition as well; her engaging performance will carry her all the way to the national competition in Washington D.C. LWVCO Board member Carol Pace presented our award to Samara and her teacher in front of an audience of several hundred students, parents, and teachers. Our judges agreed that LWVCO s participation in this event fosters League name recognition, is a friendly way to participate with Colorado s public schools, and encourages students to consider their own roles in history. Local Leagues have an opportunity to announce and encourage the contest in advance, and to reach out to participants in their area to celebrate after judging day. If you are interested in helping us judge next year s contest, let Julie Leonard know. If your League would like to promote the contest to your community next spring, let her know that too. This is a fun, low/no cost way to introduce thoughtful teenagers and their parents and teachers to the League of Women Voters. By Nancy Crow, 1 st VP Program LWVUS PROGRAM Constitutional Amendment And Money In Politics Review The May 21, 2015 LWVUS League Update contains a link to a Voter article that could be used by local and state Leagues about the current LWVUS study, Key Structures of Democracy. Copied below is the timeline that was in the article and links to the LWVUS websites for both of these program items. The timeline follows: Spring 2015: Education materials posted periodically on the League Management website. Leagues are encouraged to use these materials for member and community meetings; Fall 2015: Study guides and consensus questions posted for the Money in Politics Review and Constitutional Amendment Study. Leagues hold consensus meetings; February 1, 2016: Consensus reports (electronic) from Leagues due to LWVUS, and April 2016 national LWV Board meeting: Consensus reports and resulting position(s), if any, approved. Information on the Money in Politics Review and Constitutional Amendment Study, including scope of work, suggested readings and timelines can be found already on the League Management website (forum.lwv.org), and will be updated periodically in the weekly League Update. To receive your newsletter electronically, Julie Leonard at info@lwvcolorado.org. Follow LWVCO on Colorado Voter May,

6 LOOKING AHEAD WITH LEAGUE Come Celebrate the Natural Sounds of Rocky Mountain National Park Did you know that: Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has a permanent ban on commercial air tours RMNP is the only Park in the National Park System afforded this protection by an act of Congress LWV of Estes Park and the Leadership of Elected Officials led the effort Rocky Mountain National Park is the only unit in the National Park Service system where commercial touring flights are permanently banned. This is due to the passage of legislation by the Congress of the United States in This legislation was a direct result of a movement to protect the resource of natural sounds in RMNP led by the League of Women Voters of Estes Park. By contrast, visitors to many other parks in the National Park system are subjected to sightseeing tours, which disrupt the natural sights and sounds visitors come to see and hear. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), the LWV of Estes Park, working with the National Park Service, is planning a full day of activities on July 18, 2015 to include a presentation on and a rededication of this historic event. It is planned for July 18 to coincide with World Listening Day, which celebrates the practice of listening as it relates to the world around us, environmental awareness, and engaging visitors to listen to park soundscapes and sharing their experiences. Our goals for this event are: Educate the public about this unique distinction afforded to RMNP Celebrate this historic achievement Rededicate to preserving for future generations Begin a grass-roots movement to protect, where possible, other National Parks & Monuments from Commercial Air Tours The schedule for July 18 includes a presentation on How the Buzz was Banned, a Rededication Ceremony at Upper Beaver Meadows and Natural Sounds Activities program by the NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division. Come and join the discussion and celebration! Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis Recipient of the 2015 Leader of Democracy Award By Cinnie Auer, LWVCO Board Director, Fundraising Rebecca Love Kourlis will be honored at the 2 nd annual Leader of Democracy event on June 17. She has dedicated her career, both in and out of the courts, to ensuring that the American legal system provides justice for all. In 2006, she resigned from her position with the Supreme Court of Colorado to establish the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS.) Her work at IAALS focuses on continuous improvement of the American legal system. It is a logical off-shoot of her accomplishments on the bench where she spearheaded significant reforms in the judicial system relating to juries, family law, and attorney regulation. Please join us for a wonderful evening of recognition on Wednesday, June 17 th, and share in her journey to help rebuild justice in America. To purchase tickets: or use the registration form on the first page of this Voter. RSVP by June 11. LWVCO Project Fund Grant and EZ Grant By Liz Nick, Committee Chairwoman Local Leagues may apply for a Project Fund Grant or an EZ Grant between May 1 st and June 30, Contact the LWVCO office for the Project Fund Grant application, in which local Leagues may apply up to $1500. The grant is made possible by the Eva Fifkova Bequest and is funded by the interest and dividends earned. It is not an Education Fund. These grants can be used for various projects. If you need some ideas, past applications may be viewed in the LWVCO drop-box. The EZ Grant applies to four specific projects with maximum amounts: (1) Great Decision materials ($300), (2) public meetings of representatives of multiple levels of local government ($300), (3) ads for VOTE 411 ($500) and (4) contests involving local high schools ($500). This grant is also funded by the Eva Fifkova Bequest. In your letter, list type of project, outline of plan, contact person with local board approval, costs estimates, amount of dollars requested. In July, a committee reviews all applications and makes recommendations to the LWVCO Board. The Board makes the final decision as to which Leagues receive the grants. Checks are then mailed to local Leagues in late August, Reports of how the grant dollars were used are due April Colorado Voter May,

7 LOOKING AHEAD WITH LEAGUE Join us for League Day! Saturday, September 19, 2015 By Nancy Crow, 1 st VP Program Make plans to attend League Day, Saturday, September 19, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Select, 455 South Colorado Blvd in Denver. The agenda is still being finalized. However, the LWV Boulder County is preparing an interactive program to illustrate voting methods other than plurality voting. Also, you will have a chance to discuss the current LWVUS study on Campaign Finance Reform and the newly adopted LWVCO behavioral health study to update the LWVCO Health Care Position. The updated LWVCO Program for Study and Action book will be available at this meeting. Look for more information about League Day, and the registration form, in the August issue of the Colorado Voter and on the Member Page of the LWVCO website, LWVColorado.org. Hope to see you there! LWVUS Nominations Timeline Announced Look for the Nominating Committee s Nominee Recommendation Form in June on lwv.org and recommend a nominee(s) for the LWVUS Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. You are encouraged to recommend yourself as well as another League member. Deadline for submitting initial forms is September 30, Additional information, references and a resume are due November 15. The Nominating Committee will submit its slate to the LWVUS Board in February Be sure to seek approval from the potential nominee before you submit a name. The theme selected by the Nominating Committee is EMBRACING THE FUTURE: LEADING THE WAY. We are looking for members who will not only embrace the future, but will be the ones to lead us there. You are an important link in making that happen. Election 2015 and the Retention of Marijuana Sales Tax By Gerry Cummins, 4 th VP Voter Service Introduced in the waning days of the legislative session, HB1367 sends a measure to the 2015 ballot asking voters to allow the tax revenue from retail, recreational marijuana sales collected during the first year of legal sales (2014) to be retained. This ballot issue is necessary because of an obscure provision of Article X, section 20, (TABOR) of the Colorado Constitution. Voters overwhelmingly approved the 2013 measure which established a 15% excise tax on the cultivation of marijuana and a 10% sales tax on retail marijuana. The 2013 measure (Proposition AA) required two fiscal estimates: one of the taxes to be collected, the other of the taxes that would have been collected without the new tax. According to Article X, Section 20, if the estimate of tax revenue without the new tax was less than the actual revenue, then the dollars collected from the new tax IN ITS FIRST YEAR ONLY must be refunded. This being the case in 2014, the goal of the General Assembly's bill is to ask voters to keep the excess tax receipts. The tax dollars are intended to be used to regulate the industry, and regulation has added costs in both law enforcement and in the Department of Revenue. The original amendment that legalized recreational marijuana required the General Assembly to put a tax measure to the voters, and directed use for regulation and other state purposes. In particular, Proposition AA specified that the first $40 million of taxes collected should be used for public school capital construction. Only the taxes collected in 2014 are part of the 2015 ballot measure in question. Taxes collected after 2014 may be retained without a further vote. The bill awaits the Governor s signature. Other Image by Sadayoshi Entertainment. Local Leagues will be hosting candidate and issue forums as determined by local needs. Sign up now to help your local League Voter Service Committee this fall. Colorado Voter 7 May, 2015

8 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COLORADO 1410 GRANT ST STE B204 DENVER CO NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER CO PERMIT NO. 233 Interested in the League of Women Voters? Please send information about the LWV of Colorado. I would like to join the League of Women Voters. Annual dues are $50. Please make your check payable to LWVCO or join online. Name Address City State Zip Mail, with check, to: LWVCO, 1410 Grant Street B204, Denver, Colorado Join online, through PayPal, at Mission Statement The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, promotes informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Join the League Any person of voting age may join the League of Women Voters (LWV). For information or to find the local League nearest you, contact the LWV of Colorado. Phone: Fax: info@lwvcolorado.org Website: June June June 30 July 3 July 4 TBD August 10 August 26 September 7 September 18 September 19 Calendar 2015 LWVUS Council Leadership Recharge Project Fund Grant Submission Period Closes *Office Closed Office Closed Independence Day VOTER Deadline Board Retreat Women s Equality Day Labor Day* MLD Training League Day